Charles lewis



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. LEWIS.

MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING SPRINGS.

Patented Oct. 9, 1883.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. LEWIS.

MACHINE FOR BENDING AND FORMING SPRINGS. No. 286,318. 5' Patented Oct. 9, 1883.

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UNITED Srafrns arena FHQEQ CHARLES LEV-HS, OF AMSTERDAM, Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE I R. TOMLINSON SPRING AND WORKS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

MACHINE FOR BENDIN G AND FORMING SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 286,318, dated October 9, 1883. Application filed June 13,1883. (N0 model.)

To all wl'tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Lewis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State 5 of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bending and Forming Springs; andI do hereby declare the following tobea full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain novel and useful improvementsin machines for bending and forming springs, and has for its object to I 5 provide a device simple and economic in con strnction, while at the same time the action of the bending-rods shall be constant and ready of adjustment; and with these ends in vi ew my invention consists in arranging the bending bars or slides within a frame, so as to lie side by side in the same horizontal plane, and providing them with ratchet-teeth on their upper surfaces,with which bell-crank levers having adjustable weights at their outer extremities 2 5 engage to forcethem forward more or less, in order to conform to the curvature or contour of the former.

My invention also consists in providing a vertically-adjustable fulcrum for the levers, whereby they vmay be raised out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth, all of which will hereinafter be fully and in detail explained, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention relates may more fully understand its construction and operation, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the position and relation of the several parts with the spring bent by the bending bars or slides to conform to the shape of the former; Fig. 2, a side elevation, showing the means for raising and lowering the fulcrum of the levers, and Fig. 3 a plan view, showing the spring before it is bent, the bending-bars being in the position to form it properly against the former,

and also illustratinga grate for the purpose of affording an escape for the water used in this connection.

Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A is the frame,within which are placed, side by side, thebending-bars B, in such manner as to slide freely against each other in ahorizontal plane.

O are standards which support a rod, D, which acts as a pivot to the bell-crank levers E. The rear ends of these levers pass over a supporting-rod, F, secured within posts G.

H is a bar secured to the posts G and hearing against the sliding bars B, thereby preventing any upward displacement of the same. The forward extremities of the bell-crank levers are adapted to engage with ratchet-teeth I in the upper surfaces of the bending-bars B for the purpose of adjusting said rods forward, as will be presently explained.

J is the former, which is shaped to correspond with the desired shape of the spring. This former is adapted to be plunged in ahorizontal plane against the spring, which is placed between the former and the bending-bars.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: The spring is placed in the position, as above set forth, and the former is set up against said spring in any suitable manner. The bending-bars are then adjusted by means of the le vers, so as to conform to the contour of the former J. I am enabled to adjust the bars by means of weights K, arranged on the-rear ends of the levers. Should it become desirable to throw the levers out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth, soas to withdraw the bendingrods, this may be readily accomplished by simply raising the fulcrum or pivotal point by means of the jack-screw L, which is arranged within the standards C, so as to operate against the bearing M of the rod D.

9 N is a grate,which is placed underneath the field of operation of the plunger, and is avery material advantage in devices of this description, as it affords a ready exit for the water.

' It will be observed that the frame within which the bending-bars are held is stationary. and that the formeris movable, which arrange ment is an important feature, since the constant wearing out of the frame and the bend ing devices at present used is mainly due to the fact that their mevement forward and backward wrenches and racks them. Should it be this may readily be accomplished, as thelength.

come necessary to put in a new bending-bar,

of the rod is not material, and I use no spring movements whatever. I am enabled to produce more or less pressure by the simple adjustment of the weights on the levers, whereas in the devices as at present used the adjustment is brought about by springs andthreadi former adapted tobe forced against the spring,

in combination with the bending-bars having ratchet-teeth, and levers adapted to engage therewith, substantially as set forth.

2. The bell-crank levers, pivoted as de scribed, and having weights on their rear ends, and adapted at their forward extremities to engage with ratchet-teeth in the upper surfaces of the bending-bars, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 4

3, The levers E, pivoted on rod D within the standards 0, and supported by the rod F, and having at their rear ends adjustable weights K, in combination with the bars 13, provided with ratchet-teeth I, and movable former J, substantially as described. 4

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 0 presence of twowitnesses.

, CHARLES LEWIS.

Witnesses:

ROBERT J. SANsoN, Guns. F. NIsBEL. 

